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The Continental Leadership Research Institute (CLRI) has called for broad and inclusive participation in the ongoing delimitation consultative process being conducted by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
CLRI Executive Director, Mundia Hakoola, said inclusive participation was essential to ensuring that the process remained transparent, accountable and grounded in constitutional principles and objective demographic data.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Hakoola said the process must reflect community realities, including population movements and administrative boundary changes.
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He said this would help ensure the exercise was free from perceptions or risks of political manipulation and remained legitimate and trusted by citizens.
“CLRI welcomes the commencement of the delimitation consultative process and commends the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for taking steps to engage the public on the proposed delimitation of constituencies and wards,” Hakoola said.
He noted that delimitation was not a routine administrative task but a critical constitutional exercise that directly affects political representation, electoral fairness, development planning and equitable service delivery nationwide.
He also stressed the need for broad and meaningful participation from civil society, political parties, faith-based organizations, traditional leaders, professional associations, academia, youth and women’s groups, persons with disabilities and other non-state actors.
“CLRI further urges political parties and all stakeholders to engage constructively and peacefully throughout the consultation period,” he said.
The institute also urged the ECZ to ensure consultative meetings were widely publicised, accessible and inclusive, particularly for rural communities and historically marginalised groups.
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